Archive for October, 2006
a long post, in three parts
(I think at least part of the Netherlands was once in Gallia, so being divisa in partes is regionally appropriate.) first, from last night: Well, that was a frustrating and extremely expensive series of phone calls. 1) My doctor’s office, which has sent me a bill for the portion of services not covered by insurance […]
the Platonian ideal of Fall
(Written Friday evening, but I haven’t gotten on line to post until now.) I’m not particularly looking forward to my first day at work next Wednesday. Part of the reason is that my most recent job was bad enough to have poisoned my attitude about work in general – not so much the actual work […]
hoarding nuts for winter
I seem to be in acquisitive mode, like a squirrel hoarding nuts for the winter. I can find good reasons for all of it, of course. My purchases are split between things to make the apartment more comfortable and clothing/accessories to help me fit in both in terms of local fashions and of dressing for […]
Quick notes:
1. The Internet is even more of a time-suck when you have to pack up your computer and walk a few blocks to get to it. 2. For some reason I found it especially demoralizing not to even be able to read my fortune-cookie fortune last night. And it was in two languages – Dutch […]
definitely moeilijk
I don’t think I like this language. I learned yesterday (nevery mind why) that the word for “labia” is literally “shame-lips”. Phooey. (Though I should note that apparently the word “schaam” is used for anything pubic, so at least it’s not just an anti-woman thing.) Today I finally found my perfect boots, or at least […]
the fashion report
One thing I can’t tell is whether styles are much different here. Arizona is so much warmer that people aren’t wearing the same things just for practical reasons, and I haven’t been to any cooler US climates since summer ended. I’ve seen what the fashion magazines are showing, but of course that doesn’t necessarily bear […]
the language and the place
Two things that help in learning Dutch are a good sense of the history of the English language and a very large English vocabulary. So much of this sounds like something Caxton might have published: ei for egg (remember his “eyren”?) and “Wit U weel” for “Do you know” (Wit ye well that Arthur is […]
reading
Don’t worry if I’m not updating here as regularly for a while – it’s difficult when I have limited net time, and also when I’m trying to keep the other blog updated for the families. I don’t want to post the same things in both places. I feel like I’m picking up the language at […]
packing (or not)
I can’t believe how badly I packed for this trip. The problem, I think, is that I’d expected to have all my air-freighted stuff within a couple of days, and by the time I found out it could take much longer, I was in the final throes of moving and didn’t re-evaluate. Our stuff is […]
Ms. Saggy Butt
Note to Tempe rowers: the rowing club here has a boathouse. With showers. I’m having one small unexpected problem. What with all the walking and cycling, and the different food, and the fact that I’m busy and interested enough that I’m snacking less, I think I’ve lost weight. Couple that with the fact that most […]